Birthday present for non-sporty 13 year old boy

[BikeRunSki]

DS will be 13 in a couple of weeks and I am at a loss of what to get him.

He has asked for a swathe of Lego kits and PS4 games. I’d like to get him something less insular!!

He’s not into clothes
He has everything he needs for his sport (archery)
He’s not into football etc
The fleece onesie that was a big hit last birthday still fits
He’s got an Alexa, phone and iPad (sob, bought with the refund on my big birthday trip that should have been in April 2020).

He’d love an astronomy/stargazing “experience”, but I can’t find anything in the UK (prob looking in the wrong places).

He actually has a fair bit of pocket money saved (over £100!) but he’s too tight to spend it!

Trip to Alton towers or similar? You can get junior driving day where they learn to drive on a course, think they start at 13/14. Go Ape with a mate for fun. My Ds is non sporty and would like those things.

Does he need a new bike? That's what I'm getting mine when he's 13 in a couple of months.
Plus a new game for the xbox and some manga I know he enjoys

www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk/stargazing-experiences

I also found this if its any use

What’s wrong with getting him the Lego sets he’s asking for? He sounds very similar to my 13 yr old ds who only asks Lego.
If it makes him happy, why do you want to get him something else? ‘Less insular’. It’s a present and it’s his birthday so I would suggest getting him what he’s asking for. Lego is a great present.

@HerRoyalRisesAgain

Does he need a new bike? That's what I'm getting mine when he's 13 in a couple of months. Plus a new game for the xbox and some manga I know he enjoys

He got one for Christmas!

@HerRoyalRisesAgain

https://www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk/stargazing-experiences

I also found this if its any use

This looks perfect as something additional!

@HerRoyalRisesAgain

https://www.darkskytelescopehire.co.uk/stargazing-experiences

I also found this if its any use

That looks great, thank you, I’ll look in to this

@MummyJ12

What’s wrong with getting him the Lego sets he’s asking for? He sounds very similar to my 13 yr old ds who only asks Lego. If it makes him happy, why do you want to get him something else? ‘Less insular’. It’s a present and it’s his birthday so I would suggest getting him what he’s asking for. Lego is a great present.

Because we are trying to encourage him to interact with other people more. He is very much a loner. He has one friend, who he has seen about once a week during the summer. He’d happily not leave the house or speak to anyone else left to his own devices. His form tutor has suggested we try and encourage him to mix a bit more, or at least have something less specialist (archery) to talk about. There’s only a handful of Juniors at his archery club, which is. Good half hour away.

He was beginning to be a bit braver socially when lockdown happened. He retreated massively during lockdown, despite being at school (keyworker child).

If he likes archery, how about a darts board? Decathlon do a nice one with blunt, electronic darts.
Looking ahead, can he play snooker, table tennis, table football (if those are still fashionable! )

Totally understand @BikeRunSki
My advice would be to at least buy him some Lego or whatever he’s asked for, as well as something else that may encourage him to be more sociable. It isn’t a good idea to completely disregard what he’s asked for, although I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t do that anyway.
It’s really hard being a parent of teenage boys especially when they struggle socially, I am in exactly the same position with my ds so please don’t think I’m anything other than supportive of what you’re trying to do.

Get him the Lego and find him a Lego group to join. There's loads around. Unofficial ones in libraries etc, more official ones known as LUGS (Lego User Groups). Some lugs are adults only, some aren't. Where in the country do you live? I might be able to suggest one or a Lego event taking place soon (for example there is a show scheduled for October in Milton Keynes).

@Legoisthebest

Get him the Lego and find him a Lego group to join. There's loads around. Unofficial ones in libraries etc, more official ones known as LUGS (Lego User Groups). Some lugs are adults only, some aren't. Where in the country do you live? I might be able to suggest one or a Lego event taking place soon (for example there is a show scheduled for October in Milton Keynes).

We live in York if you know any around us? That’s such a brilliant idea. Thank you

I’ve looked into it in the past and we can only find LEGO clubs for adults ☹️

Is it that he doesn’t have friends, or that he doesn’t meet them outside of school? (Have had both situations with my sons!)

My 13yo would like:
An animal experience (Askham Bryan)
Inflatable water session with friends (Allerthorpe Lake)
Warhammer stuff (this is an expensive hobby but they can hang out at Games Workshop shop in York)
Dungeons & Dragons stuff
A driving lesson (Elvington Airfield) - not sociable at all but it makes him feel cool

MummyJ12 there is a Lego group based in Sheffield (Sheffield LUG - or 'Slug'). I am not sure if they are adults only. They recently did a show at Hull so they get around a bit away from Sheffield. There is also one called Northern Brickworks. I also am not sure if they are adults only.
Might be worth just checking them out anyway.

www.sheffieldlug.org
www.nblug.org.uk

Astronomy/stargazing - they used to do this at the observatory in Kielder forest which is the darkest place in UK so ideal to see stars.
Details here

You could get him a raspberry pi or similar to build. Then he could join a coding class and meet other non-sporty boys with similar interests.

Has he shown any interest in an instrument - guitar/bass/sax/drums?

How about an Astronaut experience for 2 at Space Store in Didcot? For £99

Ah, just realised it’s not the Op who lives in York! Sorry

Sadly looks like Thrill of the build meeting once a month in Haxby closed due to difficulties in following government covid guidelines. Maybe will restart in the future...

Dringhouses library had a afterschool lego club in 2018

exploreyork.org.uk/cafes/hungate-reading-cafe/

Hungate reading cafe is advertising a lego club

He’d love an astronomy/stargazing “experience”, but I can’t find anything in the UK (prob looking in the wrong places). Should be possible to find something on these lines, has he been to Jodrell Bank, or any local universities have outreach?

Or a telescope of his own?

I would be careful with the pushing him to socialise, some children are just happy in their own company. Feel a bit sorry for him not being allowed the lego he wants.

A skateboard?

My 13yr ds has seen friends twice over the entire holiday. Mine likes drawing - so fancy paper, fine liners, copic, mechanical pencils etc.

@JellyBabiesSaveLives, we’re going to Allerthorpe next week!

Trip to jodrell bank in Cheshire? Location dependant of course. But lots in the Sara to make a weekend of it